Understanding Imposter Syndrome: Insights from Neuroscience
Hi - My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I’m a Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire.
So, you're reading my blog, which probably means something has resonated with you?
Like many of you, I have walked the tightrope of Imposter Syndrome, teetering between confidence and doubt. It's a common experience and studies suggest that around 70% of people will face this challenge at some point.
Do you often feel overwhelmed by the notion that you don't truly deserve your achievements? Are you constantly battling the fear that you might be "found out" if you take on more responsibilities? You are not alone.
If these questions strike a chord, then this blog is for you.
Are you ready to conquer these doubts? Do you want actionable tips to manage these feelings and harness your true potential? Keep reading to discover how neuroscience can demystify these fears and how you can take control of your success story.
Imposter Syndrome can cause significant stress and hinder personal and professional growth, so read on….
The Neuroscience Behind Imposter Syndrome
At the heart of Imposter Syndrome is the brain's limbic system, particularly a part often referred to as the "chimp brain."
This concept, developed by Dr. Steve Peters in his influential book, "The Chimp Paradox," describes a part of our brain responsible for basic survival instincts and emotional reactions. Also, this is often referred to as the ‘primitive brain’.
It processes information much faster than our rational brain (the prefrontal cortex), which handles logical thinking and decision-making.
The primitive brain's primary concern is safety, and in its effort to protect us, it can sometimes misinterpret threats. It’s also not intelligent and cannot come up with new ideas… it will do the same thing again if it thinks it has protected us. We are no longer in fear of sabre tooth tigers (I use ‘polar bear'), but that threat has now been replaced with other things in life i.e work.
When you experience Imposter Syndrome, your primitive brain perceives your "exposure" as a threat to your social standing and safety. This activates the fight-or-flight response, leading to a surge of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. The same if we had seen that ‘polar bear’ back in our primitive days.
These biochemical reactions can cloud your rational thinking and amplify feelings of fear and anxiety—making the false beliefs of inadequacy feel overwhelmingly real, which will start to hardwire in your brain.
What It Feels Like to Experience Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome can manifest in various emotional and behavioural signs. If you find yourself nodding along to several of these, you might be experiencing Imposter Syndrome:
Persistent self-doubt about your skills, talents, or accomplishments. Social media does not help this!
Attributing your success to external factors like luck or other people's efforts.
Fear of not living up to expectations, leading to over-preparation, over analysing or procrastination.
Sabotaging your own success or failing to start new projects out of fear of failure.
Avoiding feedback because it's seen as a threat rather than a tool for growth.
These feelings can lead to stress, anxiety, burnout, and even depression, making it crucial to address Imposter Syndrome constructively.
Top 5 Tips to Reduce Imposter Syndrome
Combating Imposter Syndrome requires a mix of self-awareness, behavioural changes, and sometimes, external support (hey 👋).
Here are five top tips:
Positive Reframing: Change the narrative in your head. Instead of seeing tasks as threats, view them as opportunities to learn and grow. This shifts your mindset from fearing exposure to embracing challenges. There is no failure, just feedback!
Recognise Your Achievements: Keep a record of your accomplishments and positive feedback. Review it regularly to remind yourself of your capabilities and successes, countering the irrational beliefs of the Imposter Syndrome. The primitive brain loves to focus on the negatives (as these are threats it thinks it’s keep you safe from).
Talk About It: Share your feelings with trusted friends, mentors, or colleagues. Often, you'll discover that others feel the same way, which can normalise the experience and reduce the stigma and isolation you feel.
Set Realistic Standards: Perfectionism often fuels Imposter Syndrome. Set achievable goals and accept that making mistakes is a part of the learning process. This can alleviate the pressure of having to "know it all" or be perfect. What is “perfect” anyway?
Practice Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: Mindfulness helps you observe your thoughts and feelings without judgment, reducing the impact of the limbic system's alarm signals. Coupled with self-compassion, it encourages a kinder, more forgiving view of oneself.
Enhancing Your Journey: The Role of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
In tackling Imposter Syndrome, one highly effective approach is Solution Focused Hypnotherapy. This therapeutic technique not only complements the self-help strategies mentioned but also leverages the principles of neuroscience to provide a robust framework for change.
The Neuroscience of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy integrates the latest insights from neuroscience with traditional hypnotherapy techniques.
The primary goal is to calm the primitive brain—the part that often triggers the fight-or-flight response associated with Imposter Syndrome—thereby reducing anxiety and enhancing the capacity of the prefrontal cortex. Yey! We become in control and more logical 🙌
This area of the brain is responsible for rational thinking, planning, and positive decision-making. By reducing stress and anxiety, hypnotherapy allows the rational brain to take control, fostering a more balanced internal narrative.
This approach uses trance, a natural yet focused state of attention, to access the subconscious mind. In this relaxed state, your mind is more open to positive suggestions and creative problem-solving. This state facilitates the development of new, healthier neural pathways that prioritise resilience and confidence over fear and doubt.
How Solution Focused Hypnotherapy Can Help With Imposter Syndrome
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy addresses Imposter Syndrome by focusing not on the problem itself, but on the desired outcomes and the many pathways available to achieve these outcomes.
This shift in focus helps:
Enhance Self-Efficacy: By visualising success and achievement in a hypnotic state, you start to see these as real possibilities, breaking the cycle of self-doubt and fear perpetuated by Imposter Syndrome.
Build Positive Thinking: Hypnotherapy helps reframe negative thoughts. Through guided visualisation and suggestion, you can begin to internalise a positive narrative about your abilities and worth.
Develop Coping Strategies: Sessions often include developing personalised techniques for managing stress and anxiety, directly countering the physiological responses triggered by the primitive brain.
Promote Relaxation: Regular hypnotherapy induces deep relaxation, which lowers cortisol levels and alleviates the overall stress burden, helping you think more clearly and confidently.
Sustain Behavioral Changes: By reinforcing your capacity to handle challenges effectively, hypnotherapy supports long-term improvements in how you perceive and react to situations that might have triggered Imposter Syndrome in the past.
All this aids with Neuroplasticity, which is the brain's ability to reorganise itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy taps into this transformative power by encouraging positive thought patterns and behaviours.
Each session helps to 'rewire' your brain, coming up with solutions, being positive, spending more time in the prefrontal cortex (logical brain), thus reducing the neural pathways that lead to Imposter Syndrome and strengthening those associated with confidence and rational thinking.
This reshaping of the brain's circuitry is what makes hypnotherapy an effective tool for overcoming deep-seated fears and self-doubt, enabling you not only to imagine but also achieve a more empowered and positive self-image.
Get Started With a Free Initial Consultation
Are you ready to overcome the doubts of Imposter Syndrome and embrace your true potential?
As a Solution Focused Hypnotherapist, I am here to guide you through this transformation.
I invite you to sign up for a Free Initial Consultation where we can explore how hypnotherapy can be tailored to your specific needs.
Together, we can work towards building a more confident, accomplished, and happier you.
Embrace the journey to self-improvement today, and let's harness the power of your mind to defeat Imposter Syndrome once and for all.
Peters, S. (2012). The Chimp Paradox: The Mind Management Programme to Help You Achieve Success, Confidence and Happiness. London: Vermilion.
https://so06.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/IJBS/article/view/521
Want to find out more about how hypnotherapy can help with Imposter Syndrome
The next step is booking a FREE 45 Minute Initial Consultation / Hypnotherapy Discovery Session (no half-measures here).
In-person at my Oxfordshire Therapy Room (Upper Heyford, near Bicester or Online via Zoom).
The first step to setting yourself free and living the life you want.
My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I am a fully qualified Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy®, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire.
I assist people in regaining control of their lives by retraining their brains to overcome limiting thought patterns, master their emotions, and cultivate resilient behaviors for a brighter and more positive future.. I know… It’s awesome!
a nutshell, I ‘get you out of your own way’. Because, let’s face it, a lot of us are.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy taps into the power of your subconscious mind so you can move forward towards the life you’ve always wanted to live. It’s a quick, practical way to address thought patterns, emotions and behaviours that are holding you back in life.
I’m a registered and accredited member of the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH) and National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH).
Hypnotherapy sessions can be done either in my garden therapy room in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire (Near Bicester). Ideally situated, it also serves individuals in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Warwickshire and I also work online nationwide via Zoom.